'Ramayana': Ranbir Kapoor's look doesn't impress veteran costume designers
What's the story
Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, is one of the most anticipated films of 2026. However, Shibapriya Sen, a veteran costumer from superhit TV shows like Shrimad Ramayan and RadhaKrishn, has criticized the film's teaser for not living up to expectations. She believes that the first look should have been more awe-inspiring and authentic.
Costume philosophy
'The original by Ramanand Sagar is irreplaceable'
Sen, who has won awards for her costume design in Shrimad Ramayan, told Variety India that producer Siddharth Kumar Tewary had tasked her with creating an appealing look while preserving Lord Rama's reverential aura. She said, "When it comes to this epic, the original one made by Ramanand Sagar is irreplaceable in many aspects." "My producer's aim behind Shrimad Ramayan was to make it appealing to the younger generation." "Indian mythology is full of superheroes."
Design details
'Yellow is the color associated with Lord Rama'
Sen revealed that Indian sculptures, heritage, and culture were instrumental in designing the looks of Lord Rama, Sita, and Hanuman in Shrimad Ramayan. "His mukut (crown) had the chakra of the Surya Rath (chariot of the Sun God), which we see at the Konark Temple," she reminisces. "Yellow is the color associated with Lord Rama. I had used a lot of traditional embroidery with zardozi for the regal costumes."
Authenticity concerns
'It just does not seem in sync with the budgets...'
Sen expressed disappointment with the authenticity of the looks in Ramayana, particularly the jewelry. "In TV, we operate under tight budgets and telecast constraints. I feel for Ramayana, they could have been more authentic in terms of the looks, especially the jewelry." "It just does not seem in sync with the budgets being talked about. I would say that our looks were a lot richer."
Shared critique
Another veteran costume designer shared similar thoughts
Neerusha Nikhat, another veteran costume designer who has worked on mythological shows like Siya Ke Ram and Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev, also shared her thoughts. She said, "I feel Namit (Malhotra) could have been more experimental. He could have done something real and outstanding." "This is what happens when technicians get siloed into TV and film categories, and no one who worked on a Ramayan TV show was even considered." Meanwhile, Ramayana is set to release on Diwali 2026.